WATCH TRAILER

The Judge

Directed by Erika Cohn

US | 2017 | 81 minutes | Color | DVD | Order No. W221294 |

Peabody Award winner and Emmy nominated THE JUDGE provides rare insight into Shari’a law, an often-misunderstood legal framework for Muslims, told through the eyes of the first woman judge to be appointed to the Middle East’s religious courts.

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SYNOPSIS

When she was a young lawyer, Kholoud Al-Faqih walked into the office of Palestine’s Chief Justice and announced she wanted to join the bench. He laughed at her. But just a few years later, Kholoud became the first woman judge to be appointed to the Middle East’s Shari’a (Islamic law) courts. Peabody winner and Emmy nominated THE JUDGE offers a unique portrait of Judge Kholoud — her brave journey as a lawyer, her tireless fight for justice for women, and her drop-in visits with clients, friends, and family. With unparalleled access to the courts, THE JUDGE presents an unfolding vérité legal drama, with rare insight into both Islamic law and gendered justice. In the process, the film illuminates some of the universal conflicts in the domestic life of Palestine — custody of children, divorce, abuse — while offering an unvarnished look at life for women and Shari’a.

PRESS

"Showcases Faqih’s tireless fight for justice for women, while illuminating universal domestic conflicts including child custody, divorce and spousal abuse."

The Guardian

"THE JUDGE is, like its namesake, defiantly upbeat."

New York Times

"A remarkably straight-faced documentary about a controversial issue... Director Erika Cohn pragmatically and fairly addresses every side of the issue with inspiring assurance and clarity."

Elena Lazic Seventh Row

"A welcome femme-empowered portrait of an inspirational female Shari’a judge in Palestine."

Variety

“A bracing study of a fearless pioneer whose quest for justice reverberates far beyond Palestine."

The Front Row

“An exceptional, multi-dimensional look at the culture from the inside."

Lorraine Ali LA Times

"In its engaging fashion it strikes one inspirational note after another as it follows an ambitious, tough-minded and cheerful social revolutionary."

The Hollywood Reporter

SCREENING HIGHLIGHTS AND AWARDS

  • Peabody Award Winner
  • Winner, Best Documentary Feature, San Francisco Film Festival
  • Nominee, Emmy Award - Outstanding Politics and Government Documentary
  • Toronto International Film Festival
  • Doc NYC
  • International Documentary Film Festival (IDFA)
  • Full Frame Documentary Festival
  • San Francisco Film Festival

ABOUT FILMMAKER(S)

Erika Cohn

Erika Cohn is a Peabody, Emmy and DGA Award-winning filmmaker who Variety recognized as one of 2017’s top documentary filmmakers to watch and was featured in DOC NYC’s 2019 “40 Under 40.” Most recently, Erika directed and produced the New York Times Critic’s Pick and Peabody Award-nominated Belly of the Beast, featuring the 2021 Oscar shortlisted original song, “See What You’ve Done” by Mary J. Blige. This powerful exposé of human rights abuses in women’s prisons opened in theatres and was broadcast on PBS’ Independent Lens series last fall. Her current releases also include The New York Times Op-Docs short film, What You’ll Remember, a beautiful portrait of a family who reframes their experience of homelessness, now playing in theatres and at major film festivals. Previously, Erika directed and produced The Judge, a Peabody Award-winning and Emmy-nominated film about the first woman judge appointed to the Middle East’s Shari’a courts, which premiered at the 2017 Toronto International Film Festival and was broadcast on PBS’ 2018 Independent Lens series. She also co-directed and produced In Football We Trust, an Emmy Award-winning feature documentary about young Pacific Islander men pursuing their dreams of playing professional football, which premiered at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival and was broadcast on PBS’ 2016 Independent Lens series. Her work has been supported by IFP, the Sundance Institute, Tribeca Institute, Chicken & Egg, Hot Docs, ITVS, Women in Film, Fork Films, SFFILM, IDFA and BAVC, among others. (7/25)

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